Hey friends!We have a trusty old CostCo carport frame and we're looking to replace the original vinyl roof with a piece of shade cloth. We're having a hell of a time figuring out the dimensions to cover the peaked roof - does anyone know what the minimum dimensions are?Something we should be able to figure out, but we're arguing over square roots of triangles over here and I thought the community might just have the answer!

Simple measuring tool is throw a rope over and measure the length of the rope. no need for maths. If you still don't have an answer by morning I can go measure the one in the back yard.

The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.

The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.

Yeah, and I don't trust the sites selling the replacement tops, because they list the dimensions as 10x20' - but the width of the carport is 10', so the actual width of the roof with the peak has got to be more than 10', right? 20' as the length makes sense... One site I looked at actually had the dimensions of the replacement top - as it is folded up in the shipping box! Not helpful!

This site has 'desert shade cloth' that looks pretty badass; the biggest size is 12x20' and I'm hoping that will fit. 12' still seems small, however. Plus I've read that the dimensions are for the CUT size, and the actual sizes are 4-6" smaller due to folding and stitching.

I use a 10x20 underneath the original tarp and there's a gap at the edges, but it's not huge. I just use bungee balls to secure it and they don't stretch that much. Maybe a 11x20 would fit it perfect. 12x20 might be too big.

It should be 12x20, but I find a lot of those replacement canopies are too small and fit too tightly. If you're going to use some piece of shade cloth, maybe just get it a bit larger so that you can block out light at the edges in addition to the top.

"The essence of tyranny is not iron law. It is capricious law." -- Christopher Hitchens

We used a 12 x 20 tarp on ours and it was a tad small. But, the 3-4 inch gap between tarp and poles will make for good ventilation. Remember, the size advertised is the cut size..BEFORE its sewn and grommeted...so is normally a few inches less in either dimension.

I also wouldn't bother buying one of those premade canopies. The one I bought, which cost me about $100, didn't do so well in the wind and I had to cut some flaps in it. I'd just buy plain ol' shadecloth, or fix a quality tarp (note that these are good thick tarps and sized after hemming and grommeting) if I had to do it again.

"The essence of tyranny is not iron law. It is capricious law." -- Christopher Hitchens

Thank you everyone! This has helped immensely - especially because this stuff isn't cheap!I want to get away from using tarps - they just greenhouse and create a big sail, which isn't attractive. Shade cloth and/or aluminet that allows the air through is the way to go. I've been wanting to get some forever! Our frame is in ok shape; there's a spot we patched with PVC, but it still works fine. I think without the added stress of a solid top, it'll be fine.